Faux Palin

I wrote this editorial for CSUF's Daily Titan newspaper on Sept. 29.

The comment regarding Russia's proximity to Alaska made by Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin could have simply been a situation puffed up and blown out of proportion by the media and "Saturday Night Live."

The now infamous comment by Palin originated in an interview conducted by Charlie Gibson, which aired Sept. 11 on ABC. Gibson inquired about national security and since they were in Alaska he asked about Russia first.

According to transcripts from the interview, Gibson asked, "What insight into Russian actions, particularly in the last couple of weeks, does the proximity of the state give you?"

Palin responded, "They're our next door neighbors and you can actually see Russia from land here in Alaska, from an island in Alaska."

Obviously the remark became immediate fodder for the SNL crew. On Sept. 13, Tina Fey magnified the statement by saying, "I can see Russia from my house."

Unfortunately, in an interview with Katie Couric on CBS, which aired Thursday, Sept. 25, Palin failed to clarify her remark. Instead, she began repeating a version of the answer she gave to Gibson then fell into stutters and throat groans. One could actually see her furiously back-pedaling – desperately searching for a way out of the mess she created. Then Palin used a popular plan B – she blamed reporters.

"It's funny that a comment like that was...uh...kind of made to...um...(throat groan)...charact...(throat groan)...I don't know, you know...reporters."

By the end of Palin's incoherent rambling, before she said "reporters," Couric helped her think of a word.

"Mocked?" Couric said.

"Yeah, mocked. I guess that's the word, yeah," Palin told Couric.

Couric immediately gave Palin another chance to clarify her statement by asking her how the geographic nature of Russia and Alaska enhances her foreign policy credentials.

Brilliantly, she responded, "It certainly does. Because our next door neighbors are foreign countries. They are in the state that I'm the executive of."

Is she serious?

We're situated directly across the street from a Christian college, but we are far from versed in Biblical studies.

This Palin situation would make more sense if the Republican party admitted that their vice presidential choice was solely a tactic to sway Hillary supporters. It seems like they chose her simply because she exhibits strong Republican attributes and not for her ability to help run a country. Of course there are the pluses, like she's a pit bull in lipstick, she resembles a wise librarian and she believes in "small town" values, but she doesn't know what she's talking about. Palin should give up this facade of understanding issues she isn't schooled in.

Toward the end of the presidential debate Friday, Sen. John McCain mentioned he wouldn't need on-the-job training if elected president. Maybe that's true considering his age and his experience in government, but after each interview it becomes quite clear Palin is far from prepared.